Extension-ladder



(No Model.)

J. P. SMALE. EXTENSION LADDER.

No. 448,800. Patented Dec. 30, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE,

JOHN P. SMALE, OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

EXTENSION-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,800, dated December 30,1890.

Application filed geptemher 5, 1890- Serial No. 363,993| (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN P. SMALE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Extension-Ladder, of which the following is a specification. p

This invention has relation to improvements in extension-ladders; and the objects in view are to provide a cheap, simple, and safe means for adj ustably connecting the ladder-sections to each other.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the adjacent ends of two ladder-sections. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section. Fig. 1 is a detail in perspective of one of the boxes and its bolt. Fig. 5 is a detail in section of one end of the locking-bar.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

1 designates the opposite side rails of the lower ladder-section, which rails are, as usual, connected by the rungs 2. The upper inner faces of the rails l are provided with plates 3, secured thereto, said plates being provided at their upper ends with inwardly-disposed bearing-studs at, upon which is mounted a pair of rollers 6.

7 designates the opposite. side rails of the upper or extension section of the ladder, and the same is provided with a pair of boxes 8, bolted to the inner faces and lower ends thereof. transverse openings 9, in which are mounted for sliding bolts 10, the opposite ends of which depend at a right angle thereto. The bolts 10 are much longer than the width of the boxes and are adapted to be drawn outwardly, so as to take over an adjacent rung 2 of the lower ladder-section. By sliding the bolts inwardly or to the rear the extension-section may be raised and lowered and the bolts engaged over any one of the rungs, so that the length of the ladder is increased or diminished, as desired.

The side rails 1 are near their upper ends and upon their rear edges provided with a These boxes 8 are provided with pair of opposite eyes 12, which extend beyond the corresponding edges of the rails 7 of the upper section, which latter rails, it will be observed, are arranged nearer together than the rails 1, are received by the latter, 'and serve as tracks for the rollers or wheels 6.

13 designates alocking-bar, which is adapted to pass through the eyes 12 in rear of the rails 7. This locking-bar is provided at one end with a head 14, which prevents its removal from the eyes in one direction, and at its opposite end the bar is provided with a spl-ingpressed catch 15, which prevents the removal of the bar in the opposite direction. By depressing the catch, however, it will be evident that the locking-bar may be removed for the purpose of disconnecting the sections. It will be observed, however, that the ladder as a whole may be extended and contracted at will without removingthe locking-bar, said locking-bar being made cylindrical, so that it will revolve during the movements of the extension-section. The upper ends of the bars 7 are connected by a transverse board 10, which upon its rear side is provided with opposite bearing-blocks 17, in which are mounted stub-axles 18, upon which are journaled rollers 19, the peripheries of which extend beyond the blocks. The upper edge of the board between the blocks is provided with a transverse cleat 20.

21 and 22 designate upper and lower transverse bars, which connect the rails 7 near their upper ends opposite the board 16, and said bars and the edges of the board are connected by sheet-metal plates 23 and 2a. The lower plate 24; covers the lower bar 22, or rather is bent around the same, so that said bar is pro tected and also serves as a partial wall for a compartment formed by the board 16 and plates 23 and 2%. This compartment may be utilized by painters and other artisans for containing their brushes, buckets, or various tools. I locate a broad step 25 of very secure con strnction and adapted to form a foot-hold or platform, upon which the operator may stand during his work.

By raising the ladder to nearly a vertical position the rollers 19 are brought in contact with the wall of the building, and the extension-section may be raised or lowered, the

Immediately below the compartment rollers 19 readily riding over the wall. After the ladder has been raised and lowered to secure the proper length the same is inclined so as to remove the wheels or rollers from contact with the wall, and the cleat 20 comes tion heretofore described, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the construction and use of ladders.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- 1. The combination, with a lower and an upper ladder-section, the latter mounted for sliding in the former, of opposite boxes secured t0 the inner faces of the upper section and provided with transverse openings, and bolts mounted in the boxes and adapted to engage the rungs of the lower section, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a lower laddersection and an upper laddensection mounted between the side rails of said lower laddersection, of a pair of boxes secured to the inner side of said upper section and provided with transverse openings, and bolts mounted forreciprocation in said openings and provided with depending ends adapted to engage and take over the rungs of the lower section, substantially as specified.

The combination, with a lower and an upper ladder-section and means for locking the same rigidly together, of a pair of eyes secured to the rear edges of the side rails of the lower section, and a removable lockingbar mounted in said eyes, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with an upper and a lower ladder-section, said upper section being mounted for sliding in the lower section, and means for locking said sections together, of a pair of eyes extending from the rear edges of the side rails of the lower section, and a lock ing-bar revolubly mounted in said eyes and having contact with the rear edges of the side rails of the upper section, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with the lower and upper sections of a ladder, of a pair of eyes extending from the rear edges of the lower section, a cylindrical locking-bar mounted in the eyes, provided at one end with a disk and at the opposite end with a spring-pressed locking-catch, a pair of boxes secured to the inner sides of the side rails of the upper section, said boxes being provided with transverse openings, bolts mounted in the openings and provided with depending ends for engaging the rungs of the lower section, and a pair of rollers journaled upon the side rails of the lower section and adapted to ride over the front edges of the side rails of the upper section, substantially as specified.

6. A ladder the side rails of which areconneeted by a transverse piece at the rear edges thereof, upper andldwer bars connecting the front edges of the rails opposite the upper and lower edges of the transverse piece, and sheet-metal plates connecting the bars with the edges of the piece and combining therewith to form an upper compartment, substantially as specified.

7. An extension -ladder having opposite bearings, a pair of rollers mounted upon the bearings upon the ladder, and a cleat located above the rollers, said rollers or cleat being adapted for contact with awall as determined by the inclination of the ladder, substantially as specified.

S. The combination, with the overlapping ladder-sections mounted for sliding one upon the other, of L-shaped gravity-bolts adapted to engage the rungs of the lowermost section and mounted for transverse reciprocation in the side bars of the upper section, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN P. SMALE. \Yitnesses:

CALVIN HARTWELL, (,1. W. BELL. 

